Xtremity Optimist open meeting at Bosham Sailing Club

by Sandy Ramus 19 Sep 15:30 BST 17 September 2023

100 Optimists spread across the regatta fleet and main fleet arrived ready for a 4 race series making their way out in a blustery breeze gusting 23 knots in the harbour. Due to the easterly direction the main fleet course was set in the Gallon Reach so wasn't too far from base camp. Wind over tide made for a lively sail to the start with the young sailors testing the skills in the steep seas.

Race 1 got away on the second attempt and the fleet fought their way upwind. As they were arriving at the windward the sky darkened and it suddenly felt very unlike the end of summer. There were the odd flashes of lightning and the rumbles and the heavy rain started falling. In the race team on the committee boat we realised this was terminal for this race and it was swiftly abandoned and the sailors headed straight home where the tea hut became very popular!

With the weather system from the south west and the easterly wind the rain and thunderstorm hung about for a bit but as it seemed to ease off the committee boat went out to see what it looked like on the race track. As time ticked on it was looking unlikely but with a bit of faith in the weather tracker the main fleet were called to launch.

Xtremity Optimist open meeting at Bosham - photo © IOCA

Not easy for the young sailors and parents to turn it around and get back out there when all was looking like it was over for the day so full credit for getting going again so swiftly.

Race 1 was a more comfortable 10 knots and with the tide starting to run with the wind the fleet split with some trying to get out of the tide but having less wind and others staying more central in the stronger breeze. The race was won convincingly by Finley Browne who had build a substantial lead by the windward mark and was never challenged. Nia Byrne followed in second, then Patrick de Salle with Pippa Shepherd forth.

Race 2 started with sun starting to peak through the clouds and everyone started to dry out... this is more like it! If only we had longer to do more races we all thought.

After two laps of the windward leeward course and a few position changes the winner was Finn Ramus who sailed a stunning second windward leg from Pippa Shepherd (2nd), Wilbur Ward (3rd) and Tom Keegan (4th).

Xtremity Optimist open meeting at Bosham - photo © IOCA

Unfortunately we did have to finish it there but it was great to end on a high note after a challenging day for all involved.

Xtremity kindly supported the event with some fantastic prizes and we are hugely grateful for that.

It was fantastic for Pippa Shepherd, a Bosham Sailing Club member, to receive the 1st place trophy and first Bosham boat trophy after a consistent 4,2 scoreline. Well done Pippa.

Pippa Shepherd wins the Xtremity Optimist open meeting at Bosham - photo © IOCA

Main Fleet Results:

Pos	Boat name	Sail No	Helm	R1	R2	Pts
1st		6444	Pippa Shepherd	4	2	6
2nd		6230	Finley Browne	1	8	9
3rd		6298	Thomas Knight	5	7	12
4th	Lemody 2	6610	Nia Byrne	2	11	13
5th		6546	Wilbur Ward	11	3	14
6th		6553	Finn Ramus	15	1	16
7th	GBR 6621	6621	Hector Davies	7	14	21
8th	GBR 6451	6451	Charlie Holland	17	5	22
9th	Smile and wave	6631	Alex Saunders	14	10	24
10th	Portuguese man o war	6316	Patrick Salle	3	22	25
11th		6349	Felix Garlick	6	19	25
12th		6472	William Shaw	13	12	25
13th		6644	Tom Keegan	24	4	28
14th		6270	Harry Ramshaw	23	6	29
15th	Pole Position	6508	Sean Salle	12	18	30
16th	Oppie	6515	Rupert Garlick	9	24	33
17th	Grizzly	6404	Edward Taylor	8	26	34
18th	Avenger	6529	Henry Cruse	18	16	34
19th	Finns boat	6574	Finn Byrne	21	15	36
20th	TNT	5461	Wilbur Haye	10	29	39
21st	Rocktimist	6190 / 6617	Felix Gladman	26	17	43
22nd	Whirlwind	6368	Merryn Wealthy	25	23	48
23rd	Jammy Dodger	5990	Rufus Haye	19	31	50
24th	Flipper	6439	Jack Ward	42	9	51
25th	NA	6394	Josie Clark	16	39	55
26th		6418	Tristan Shaw	35	20	55
27th		6523	William Fuller	29	28	57
28th	Sync	6424	Beth Llewellyn	20	42	62
29th		6446	Samuel Machell	37	25	62
30th	Hot Stuff	RSA 1281	Iain Coward	50	13	63
31st	Optimistic	6494	Zoe Green	43	21	64
32nd	Optical Illusion	6520	Edward Judson	30	34	64
33rd		6449	Harry Whelan	22	43	65
34th	Still Wazzing	6576	Arthur Pattison	33	32	65
35th	Sundowner	6512	Darcy Donnell	32	33	65
36th		6646	Max Ellis‑Asquith	41	30	71
37th	Dodger	6246	Oscar Stephens	31	40	71
38th	Sea Shocker	5813	Felix Ward	28	44	72
39th	Waterrat	6271	Theodore Fox	39	35	74
40th	Viper	5665	Finn Kameen	27	48	75
41st	Dash	5664	Sam Taylor	49	27	76
42nd	Watermelon	6484	Isabella Deas	38	38	76
43rd	Emily Franklin	6416	Emily Franklin	36	41	77
44th		6381	Carwyn Parry	44	36	80
45th	Prime mover	624	Eva Brindley	34	51	85
46th	Speedy carrot 2	6415	Robbie Judson	51	37	88
47th		6643	Finnian Keegan	45	46	91
48th	Zigzag	6234	Maddy White	40	52	92
49th		6552	Amelia Briwne	48	45	93
50th	Great Wight	4581	Robby Mayo	46	49	95
51st	Water Lord	6532	Luke Moore	52	47	99
52nd	Powder monkey	5957	Ella Kane	53	50	103
53rd	Woody	6296	Jack Curtis	47	DNC	113
54th	Dave	6231	EWAN HAMILTON	DNC	DNC	132
54th		6514	Kate Charlesworth	DNC	DNC	132
54th		6596	Lucy Whorton	DNC	DNC	132
54th		5693	Max Murphy	DNC	DNC	132
54th			Eloise McCarthy	DNC	DNC	132
54th	Imp	5498	Huxley Lock	DNC	DNC	132
54th	Double Trouble (Colgate)	5963	Safia Colgate	DNC	DNC	132
54th		5774	Jake Petevinos	DNC	DNC	132
54th		6615	Meri Greenaway	DNC	DNC	132
54th	Boppy	5096	Isabelle Simpson	DNC	DNC	132
54th		6306	George McCormick	DNC	DNC	132
54th	Skywalker	5512	Flynn Grant	DNC	DNC	132